Most Discussed

Leaked page shows Surface RT from $499 to $699

updated 11:25 am EDT, Tue October 16, 2012

by MacNN Staff

Surface RT pricing leaks on page, quickly taken down

A page on Microsoft's web site appears to have quickly leaked the pricing for Microsoft's forthcoming Surface RT tablet ahead of its official unveiling later this month. The Surface RT, which will not run the full version of Windows 8, will likely start at $499 and will range in price up to $699. The leaked pricing figures, while comparable with the tablet market-leading iPad, are well above the expectations Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer set recently for Surface pricing. The pricing page has been taken down, though, so the price points are not necessarily final.

The page was discovered this morning by TechCrunch, which captured a screenshot of the Surface RT product page before it was taken down. That page shows a 32GB Surface RT without the capacitive Touch Cover keyboard attachment priced at $499. A 32GB model with a Touch Cover is priced at $599, while a 64GB model with Touch Cover costs $699.

The page also gives the option to swap the Touch Cover for a Type Cover, which features hardware keys, for $10 more.

Notably, the Surface models with Touch Covers are listed as "Out of stock," even though the device has not yet been released. Since the company unveiled the Surface tablets back in June, there have been no hands-on reports on how well the devices' signature keyboard covers work. That these may not be available when the device launches could signal that Microsoft is having some issues with the keyboards, either in producing them or in making them functional.

A brief overview paragraph indicates that Microsoft will be shipping the Surface RT with a copy of Microsoft Office 2013 RT2 preloaded, along with "Xbox apps and other essentials."

Of the two Surface models, Surface RT is meant to be the more consumer-oriented, and it is expected to be the lower-priced of the two. Surface Pro, which is not detailed in the leaked page, runs the full version of Windows 8, is expected to be priced more like an Ultrabook. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently hinted that Surface devices would be priced "probably $300 to about $700 or $800."

... But will people really want a device that has a footprint larger than a laptop? And requires a flat surface??

Those two problems, together, are killers. You can't use Surface with Touch Cover or Type Cover on your lap unless you use the kickstand and you're really really careful. But if you use it on a desk, Surface is just an under-sized desktop computer with an uncomfortable keyboard. The absolute worst of both worlds.

(And I didn't even bring up the "WTF are all these rectangles?" issue for your average Windows user.)

... Since the company unveiled the Surface tablets back in June, there have been no hands-on reports on how well the devices' signature keyboard covers work. That these may not be available when the device launches could signal that Microsoft is having some issues with the keyboards, either in producing them or in making them functional. ...

Oh the irony. Microsoft used to be famous for its keyboards.

Microsoft clearly felt the need to pre-announce an unfinished product. Too bad for them their FUD doesn't work any more. FUD only works when you dominate a market, consumers and IT managers actually pay attention to what you say, and you can scare everyone away from potentially better, younger competitors simply by mentioning vaporware. It doesn't work when you're a hopeless wannabe, you've wasted a decade trying to push Windows Slates into an indifferent market, and the competition is delivering hardware + OS + apps + user experience + cloud-based infrastructure like clockwork.

So yeah, take your time with the keyboards, Microsoft. Get at least that one thing right.

The problem is that this is the same price as the iPad. Heck, the iPad 2 (last year's model) is $100 less.

This feels very much like the Zune: Develop a product that has dubious "delta" value over Apple, but sell it at the same price. The Zune was going to unseat the iPod because the Zune had the ability to share song (called squirting), and an FM receiver.

The Surface has the keyboard. But, that's not how I use my iPad. I lie down on my couch and flip through it. I flip it horizontally and vertically depending on what I'm viewing.

The surface is built to be table top. It has a keyboard (which may not be so good for typing) and a kickstand. Is it a tablet or a laptop? Is Windows 8 suppose to fill in the desktop market or the tablet market. Maybe the two will one day merge into a single OS, but right now Windows 8 just feels awful. Metro is confusing as a desktop OS, and the old Windows desktop keeps popping up when you use it on the tablet.

Microsoft is drinking its own Koolade here. They wanted to prove that WIndows is the world's greatest tablet OS as they've been saying since 2002 with Windows XP. It's why the tablet and desktop HAD to have the same operating system.

Will people pay the iPad price for a non-iPad? Android has become popular because it does its best to undercut Apple's price. The Nexus 7 is only $199. Amazon's tablet is about the same price. Even Apple is now getting into the game with its 7" iPad (if rumors are to be believed).

Windows 8 will succeed because the criteria for a Windows 8 success is so low. Every $300 PC will ship with Windows 8. It doesn't matter that 30% of Windows PC end up being informational displays and cheap processors for cash registers, ATMs and ticket machines. Windows 8 will sell simply because you really have no choice. Microsoft will plump out the numbers as success like they did with Vista.

It's sad because there was a lot of innovation in the previously-called Metro design, and Windows 7 is really a fairly good operating system.

Login Here

Please note that it takes a couple of minutes for new comments to be visible in this area.

&nbsp

Now AAPL Stock: 113.95 ( + 1.83 )

Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj

Share

Developer163d

Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket

The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]

Share

163d

Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera

Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94

Share

Industry163d

Apple employees testing wheelchair features

New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa

Share

Troubleshooting163d

SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards

SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If

Share

Upgrades/storage163d

Apple's third-quarter results due July 26

Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm

Share

Investor164d

Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users

Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE